APOD 4.1

March 26th, 2011.                                 T Tauri and Hind's Variable Nebula

This picture is quite remarkable as it contains both a star of interest and a Nebula in the same frame.  These objects are located over 400 light-years away at the edge of a molecular cloud and span for a length of 4 light-years.  The yellowish orange star near the center is T Tauri, a prototype of the T Tauri Variable Star Class. Surrounding it is a dusty cosmic cloud known as Hind's Variable Nebula or NGC 1555. While both the Star and Nebula are very luminous and present, this is rare to find them both present at the same time without using an exposure on the picture adding to the mysteriousness behind the objects. It is believed that T Tauri variable stars like the one present are young stars sun-like stars still in their early stages of development.  Additionally, infrared telescopes have given evidence to believe that this T Tauri star is actually part of a multiple system and the surrounding Hind's Nebula also contains a young stellar object.  There is still much to be learned about this mysterious grouping, however astronomers are actively researching to find out all there is to know.

March 26th, 2009 Observation

Date: March 26th, 2009 (Astronomy Night)
Time: 8-10 p.m.
Location: Clearwater, FL

Unfortunately I was not in town to go to Astronomy Night and use the telescopes, however I did manage to escape from my family for a couple of hours at night to view the skies and see what I was missing.  Although I was in Clearwater with my family, I still saw many of the same features that were discussed at Astronomy Night according to friends who attended.  Most notably was the bright Sirius located in Canis Major in the Southern Sky.  Normally when observing from my driveway the Southern Skies are blocked by trees so I can not get a great view but its great magnitude amazed me.  Also prominent in the night sky was Saturn to the East, an always fascinating observation point.  However, I would have really liked to see the planet under the magnification of a telescope so I am hoping that there is one more Observation Session while it is still high in the Eastern night sky.

Observation March 18th, 2011

Date March 18th, 2011.
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: My driveway in Northern Sarasota.


In expectation of this rare event, I made sure to leave free time on Saturday night in order to observe the moon.  The moon this night was the closest it has been to Earth in 18 years and thus looked ENORMOUS compared to usual.  I was amazed by its shear size as the Supermoon approached us.  Not only was it large, but its color was darker with a yellowish tint as well.  However, as a result of this great luminosity as well as the lights from the houses on my road, the viewing of stars was much harder than normal and nothing could be vividly seen to be noted.

APOD 3.8

March 17th, 2011.                                  Saturn's Serpent Storm

According to studies, late in the year last year a violent storm erupted in the Northern Hemisphere of Planet Saturn.  This white storm is still going on, now putting on a show like that of its rival planet Jupiter.  It is believed that the storm has grown and now spans a length of 100degrees of longitude.  The last time a storm of this magnitude took place on Saturn was 1994, and the current storm is easily the brightest appearance on the globe, rivaling even Saturn's great rings themselves.  The storm was nicknamed the serpent storm as the disturbance weaves and swerves around the planet.  Pictures of the storm have been taken by the Cassini Spacecraft which is in orbit around Saturn.  While the storm was first noted last December by amateur astronomers, it has taken much interest around the world and is now studied by many astronomers all over, amateur and professional.

APOD 3.7

February 26th, 2011.                                  Shell Galaxies in Pisces

This photograph is of a cluster of galaxies located 100 million light-years away known as Arp 227.  All of these galaxies are located in the constellation Pisces, or the Fish.  On the left hand side of the photograph are the shell galaxy NGC 474 and the spiral arm galaxy next to it NGC 470.  There are two theories on how the shell-like ripples of NGC 747 were formed, one having to do with a gravitational encounter with its neighboring galaxy and the other proposing a merger with a smaller galaxy that caused the ripples.  The large galaxy on the right hand side of the picture is known as NGC 467, and also shows slight resemblance to this rippling effect proving another intergalactic interaction.  The rest of the stars and galaxies shown lie well within our galaxy and just happen to lie within the 25 arc minute view taken in the photograph.

Quarter 3 Biography: James Keeler

             James Keeler Biography

             James Edward Keeler was born September 10^th, 1857 in La Salle, Illinois. He was born to the parents William Keeler, assistant paymaster on an ironclad steamship, and Anne Dutton.  Throughout his career he made many significant contributions to astronomy that have helped its advancement over the ages.

            Growing up, James studied at public schools in his hometown of La Salle, Illinois.  He later moved to Mayport, Florida in 1869 where he was home schooled for a short time.  He eventually transferred to Johns Hopkins University with financial assistance from philanthropist Charles H. Rockwell and graduated in 1881 with degrees in Physics, German, Math, Chemistry, and Astronomy. He then began working at the Lick Observatory where director Edward Holden lobbied to have Johns Hopkins grant him a Ph.D for his work with the observatory but the University would not break their rule of only giving degrees for work done on campus. Despite irritating and disappointing Keeler, it did not prevent him from his future success.

            As an astronomer, Keeler was one of the first to utilize Spectroscopy to study and analyze the composition of light from stars and other celestial objects and thus was regarded as one of the leading Astronomical Spectroscopists of the era.  He was also one of the pioneers of Astrophysics, or applying physics to gain a better understanding of celestial phenomenon.  Through this work he realized that Saturn’s rings were actually made up of numerous particles, each individual particle orbiting the planet, and in this process he made note of what was later named Keeler’s Gap.  He furthered his research on Saturn by using his skill in Spectroscopy to verify James Maxwell’s hypothesis that the particles orbiting Saturn moved at different speeds, and after he proved the hypothosis correct he gained my fame and renown in the world of astronomy. 

            Additionally, Keeler did much to improve the current understanding of Spiral Nebulae and Spiral Galaxies through his research at the Lick Observatory using the Crossley Reflector Telescope.  Most of his observations were in and around the constellation Andromeda, or the Queen, and more notably M31 inside the constellation. 

            One of his most important contributions however was his promoting of the use of his newly developed method of Astrophysics.  In 1895, along with George Hale, he founded the Astrophysical Journal for communication among the adherents of the “New Astronomy.”  He also produced the first regular graduate program at the University of California that helped produce much research in both Astronomy and Astrophysics.  Through his observations here, he demonstrated the prowess of the reflecting telescope over the refracting for certain cases in which the reflecting could be larger and cheaper.  Finally, Keeler also did some fundraising to advance his research efforts in both Astronomy and Astrophysics to help further his cause.

            It is clear that James Keeler did much to enhance our understanding of our skies and the celestial objects they contain.  Since he took interest in Astronomy as a child, he has worked effortlessly to spread his theories and ideas and reveal to the world the true mysteries that astronomy beholds.

APOD 3.6

February 25th, 2011.           NGC 4449: Close-up of a Small Galaxy.

This image is of a small galaxy known as NGC 4449.  It is located at an amazing distance of 12 million light-years away. Despite its vast distance from Earth, the galaxy itself spans only 20,000 light-years.    The galaxy was found by William Herschel in 1788 and is currently recorded at a 9.4 magnitude.  It is a Magellanic Dwarf Galaxy, often compared to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) which is known to be our Milky Way's satellite.  The picture was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and the reason for the reddish tint of the clouds is due to the presence of Hydrogen Gas.  These red clouds actually resemble star forming regions, with enormous interstellar arcs and bubble formations.  NGC 4449 is a part of a group of galaxies found in the constellation Canes Venatici which I believe is next on our list of constellations we are going to learn in class. It is believed that interactions with these nearby galaxies have had a great effect and played a key role in the star development of NGC 4449.